Carolina Panthers safety Michael Griffin, 31, with team to share wisdom, ‘calm the waters’

A first-round pick by the Titans in the 2007 NFL draft, Michael Griffin took advantage of every opportunity to learn from fellow starting safety Chris Hope.

They studied film together. They constantly spoke. And if Griffin ever needed anything, he could find his mentor, a former Super Bowl champion, only two houses down from his Nashville home.

Now, as the oldest member of the Carolina Panthers’ secondary, Griffin, 31, has transformed from student to teacher, helping tutor some of the team’s young defensive backs on playing in the NFL.

“Coaches are there to help you study the film and go over it, but it’s the little things they ask questions about,” Griffin said. “I’m here and am an open book. Whatever you want to know I’m willing to tell you about through my experiences and other peoples’ experiences that I’ve met throughout the years.”

Signed by the Panthers on Sept. 27, Griffin, a two-time Pro Bowler in nine seasons with the Titans, wasn’t able to help mentor Carolina’s young defensive backs during offseason workouts or training camp.

But despite being new to the team, he’s already fielding questions about his experiences.

Before Griffin’s arrival, the Panthers’ secondary, which includes three rookie cornerbacks, had an average age of 25. But Griffin and Kurt Coleman have provided veteran leadership on the back line of Carolina’s defense.

“It’s always good to have a veteran presence back there just to calm the waters when things start moving around and whatnot,” said defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. “I appreciate that, and that helps any football team.

"We’ve got some young guys back there (in the secondary), and whether it’s on the field or off the field, that’s an important part of it.”

Pro Football Focus pegged Griffin as one of the league’s lowest-ranked safeties a season ago. But he has shown promise through his first two games with the Panthers despite having limited knowledge of the team’s playbook.

Griffin has played 76 defensive snaps through two weeks. He was on the field for 58 percent of the defensive snaps in his start against the Buccaneers on Monday night, when he had five tackles, including one for a 1-yard loss.

“Sometimes he may get the wording mixed up, but honestly, I know within his first two weeks here he picked up the defense really well,” Coleman said. “And now it’s just about fine-tuning all of the small details.

“I’m really impressed with how he’s come in, had a great work ethic and fit right in with us.”

Carolina’s secondary has been scrutinized during the team’s 1-4 start, no more so than when the Panthers became the first team in NFL history to allow both a 500-yard quarterback and a 300-yard receiver in the same game during a Week 4 loss to the Falcons.

But Griffin remains confident in Carolina’s young secondary and believes its growing pains will eventually subside.

“They’re trying to get better each and every week,” Griffin said. “They’re studying, they’re talking and they’re trying to stay after (practice) and work on their craft. They’re going to get better each an every week.

“It may go faster or it may go a little slow, but I have all the faith and confidence in all of these guys here.”

This story was originally published October 13, 2016 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers safety Michael Griffin, 31, with team to share wisdom, ‘calm the waters’."